So, you’ve just purchased your first bass guitar and are ready to start laying down the groove to your favorite songs; congratulations!
As I always tell my students, all the technique and fantastic gear in the world will do you no good if your instrument is not tuned correctly, so that’s the first thing you must guarantee.
Good tuning is of the utmost importance. Otherwise, everything will sound off, especially if you play with a backing track or other musicians.
Just one person with an out-of-tune instrument can make everything sound weird and unprofessional, so it is essential to know how to tune your instrument perfectly and do it every time you pick it up to play.
To tune your bass, turn the tuning pegs on the headstock until each string reaches the desired note.
If you turn them counterclockwise, you tighten the string and raise its pitch. Turning them clockwise loosens the string and lowers the pitch.
It is crucial to know that bass strings are tuned to E, A, D, and G, from the thickest to the thinnest string.
Electronic tuners are the most popular today due to their affordability and precision compared to other, more conventional methods, such as using a pitch pipe or a tuning fork.
They provide evident feedback and instructions, which are extremely valuable for beginner players who still haven’t developed an ear or for those whose concentration would be impeded by outside noise.
The most common electronic tuners nowadays are clip-on tuners, pedal tuners, and tuner apps that you can download to your smartphone.
They all share the same goal, but how they receive information differs slightly.
Clip-on tuners are attached to your instrument, usually to the headstock, and they sense each string's vibration as you play it.
I love these and use them all the time because they aren’t affected by outside noise (like an app on your phone), they are affordable, weigh next to nothing, and you don’t need to plug them in (like pedal tuners).
To use one, attach it to your instrument’s headstock, right next to the tuning pegs.
Switch it on and make sure you’re in the correct tuning mode. I generally keep mine on “chromatic,” meaning it picks up the notes I play without associating them with a bass or guitar string.
If you’re not on chromatic, ensure it is set for the right instrument (most have guitar and bass) and standard tuning since some models also have alternate tuning modes.
Pluck a string and tune up or down accordingly. If you’re tuning from the thinnest to the thickest string, you should tune to G, D, A, and E.
Once you’ve tuned every string, go through them all once more to make sure they’re all perfect, as there might be slight changes after tuning for the first time.
Pedal tuners work very similarly. They are also unaffected by outside noise since they don’t rely on a microphone. Instead, you plug your bass/guitar into the pedal using an instrument jack and pluck the strings. You must make sure you have the volume up on your instrument’s volume knob. Otherwise, the pedal won’t receive any signal. Before tuning, you must switch it on (this usually mutes the sound from the amplifier for silent tuning), and it must be connected to a power source.
Using a smartphone app to tune your instrument is the most inexpensive option, and many free apps exist.
However, it is my least favorite means of tuning since it relies on your smartphone’s microphone and it is highly prone to outside interference.
If you’re hanging out with other musicians already playing, or there’s background noise, your phone will pick that up, making it harder to fine-tune your strings.
Some popular tuning apps are Guitar Tuna by Yousician, Boss Tuner, Fender Guitar Tuner, and Simply Tune.
I recommend having at least one if you don’t have a better alternative and need to tune your instrument, but I wouldn’t rely on it as my primary tuning method.
Whenever you’re tuning your instrument, there are a few rules of thumb to follow to ensure optimal tuning stability, which means how well your strings will remain in tune as you play your instrument.
The most valuable tip to follow is that you should always tune up to the desired note.
This means you go from a lower note than the desired pitch and tighten the string until you reach the target note instead of having it at a higher pitch and tuning down.
This guarantees the string is at its tightest tension, making it easier to retain while playing.
Think of it as if you were tying your shoelaces – you want them as tight as possible before walking to ensure they maintain that same position for a long time.
Other general things to consider to increase tuning stability include restringing your instrument correctly, replacing the strings once they are old and oxidized, and cleaning them with a dry cloth after playing to remove dirt and sweat.
If you’ve spent time with experienced musicians, you’ve probably seen them tune their instruments by ear.
This is an excellent skill because you won’t always have immediate access to a tuner, or yours might malfunction or run out of batteries.
Sometimes, you might need to quickly adjust on the spot instead of looking for a tuner.
Suppose you’re about to go on stage or record a session. In that case, I’d still recommend using a tuner to ensure you’re ideally in tune, but practicing tuning by ear is a healthy and valuable exercise for any musician, so I encourage you to try it frequently.
To tune by ear, you’ll need a reference note. This note can come from a pitch pipe, another instrument, or an app, among other sources.
Generally, you start with the A string (the third thickest string on a bass and the fifth on a guitar).
Play the reference note, compare it to your instrument, and raise/lower its pitch accordingly. Once your A string is in tune, you can use that one to tune the remaining strings.
If you play the E string at the 5th fret, its pitch is the same as the open A string.
With this information, you can play the open A string, followed by the E string on the 5th fret, and adjust the latter until the pitches match.
The same method can be applied to the remaining two strings: pluck the A string on the 5th fret, and the pitch must match the open D string.
Lastly, pluck the D string on the 5th fret, which should match the open G string.
In summary:
Tuning with harmonics is another way of tuning by ear. It is a good alternative to comparing one string on the 5th fret to the following string.
For this method, you must know how to play natural harmonics on the 5th/7th frets and where to find the same notes on adjacent strings.
To play a natural harmonic, lightly place your finger directly on the 5th or 7th fret, barely applying any pressure, and pluck the string. The resulting sound is a natural harmonic that should be sustained even after you release your finger.
Lastly, you need to know that the 5th fret harmonic on one string is the same pitch as the 7th fret harmonic on the next string:
To tune using this method, play a harmonic on one properly tuned string, then play the corresponding one on its adjacent string and adjust the pitch until they sound the same.
You’ll hear an oscillation (wobbliness) while they’re not matched, and it will stop once they’re tuned to the same pitch. This even, clear tone means the strings are in tune.
The biggest advantage of using this method is the presence of this clear oscillation and its absence once the strings are in tune, as the feedback is very clear.
A tuning fork is a piece of metal that rings in a specific note when you hit it against a hard surface. The most common ones are tuned to A (440Hz), and you can use that as a reference pitch to tune your A string.
Although they are rarely seen these days, they are reliable and if you can tune the rest of the strings using harmonics, it can be helpful to ensure you’re perfectly in tune.
When tuning by ear, a good reference note is essential; otherwise, you’ll be wasting your time.
If you’re tuning using harmonics, ensure your instrument is correctly set up to get a good sound out of each string. You’ll have trouble obtaining harmonics with good volume and proper pitch if the intonation is off.
Use an amplifier and increase the volume if necessary.
Listen for the “beat” or wobbly sound you get when the strings are out of tune, and carefully raise or lower the pitch of the one you’re tuning until it completely disappears.
When you’re done tuning, play a couple of scales, arpeggios, or octaves between strings to confirm that it sounds good. If not, return to your reference note and fine-tune it until you feel it is perfect.
If you’re playing in standard tuning, your strings should be tuned to EADG (from the thickest to the thinnest string).
Each fret following an open string raises the pitch by a semitone.
Every note is separated by 2 semitones, except from E to F and B to C. In these instances, there’s only a semitone separating them.
With this in mind, a bass fretboard looks like this:
Some music genres commonly use alternate tunings, in which the pitch of one or more strings differs from the standard tuning.
Open tunings are less frequently used on the bass than on the guitar, but Drop tunings are often used.
For instance, Drop D is a tuning in which you lower the E string by two semitones to D. The rest of the strings remain unchanged. It is widely used in hard rock, stoner, and other heavy genres.
Another very popular tuning in the genres above is Drop C, in which the E string is lowered by 2 whole tones, from E to C, while the rest of the strings are lowered by a whole tone (A to G, D to C, and G to F).
By now you should understand why tuning your instrument properly is extremely important if you want to be a successful player. You can’t practice, jam, write, or play for fun if your bass is out of tune.
It is essential to know how to use your tuner of choice. If you intend to become a skilled, well-rounded musician, you should also be able to tune by ear using a method such as harmonics or a reference note.
Tuning efficiently is a skill that you develop continuously as you mature as a musician. Keep practicing your instrument consistently and you will never stop improving!
Ever had your pick slip mid-song or felt your hand cramp after just a few minutes of playing? A proper grip is the key to better tone, speed, and accuracy—making playing more effortless and enjoyable. The way you hold your pick directly affects your sound and technique. A relaxed, controlled grip prevents fatigue and improves […]
Learning guitar is exciting, but it’s easy to pick up bad habits without realizing it. Small mistakes—like poor posture, skipping warm-ups, or pressing too hard—can slow your progress and make playing harder than it needs to be. At Guitarspace.org, we help new players fix common problems so they can improve faster and have more fun. […]
Long nails and guitar playing—can they work together? Absolutely! Many guitarists, from classical players to fingerstyle musicians, use long nails to their advantage. But, it’s not without challenges—buzzing strings, awkward fretting, and that annoying clicking sound when strumming. The good news? With the right techniques, adjustments, and nail care, you can keep your nails long […]